Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

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President General Mgr./Art Director GHSA Media Relations Photos courtesy of Ty Freeman, Mike Newman, Teresa Penley Sheppard, Sandy Creek, Scott Rogers, I.J. Rosenberg DJ Galbiati Steve Figueroa St. Francis, Larry Williams, Johnson, Sav., SACA, Lisa Kirkpatrick and Randolph-Clay. Published by Managing Editor Asst. Managing Director GHSA Marketing Stephen Black Fletcher Proctor Alan Sharp Score Atlanta Order DVD copies of all televised games at GHSA.tv. A Word from the Executive Director Greetings, GHSA Basketball Fans: Welcome to the 2013 GHSA Basketball championships. This season has been an exciting one as regular season games continue to receive local, statewide, and national attention. The work of the players, coaches, and cheerleaders from these competing schools qualifies all of them as “winners”, but all are pursuing the title of “State Champion”. It is my hope that you will enjoy and appreciate the performances that you will see in the pressure- packed world of post-season basketball. The Georgia High School Association thanks you for your support of high school basketball throughout the season. Spectators are a very impor- tant part of high school athletics in general, and this is especially true for the school for which you are supporting at this tournament. We do want to remind you that good sportsmanship is an essential element of high school athletics. Be positive as you express your support of your team. Behind the scenes of this great event is a group of hard-working volunteers who will donate many hours of work this week to enhance this experience for our participants. Ernie Yarbrough, the GHSA Associate Director who oversees basketball, has been leading the effort for many weeks to make this event special. The quality of GHSA events such as this one is made possible through the help of corporate partners whose names are displayed in this program and around the arena. The GHSA thanks these fine companies, and we encourage you to support them whenever possible. People throughout the state of Georgia (and in parts of surrounding states) will be able to share in this experience through the television production provided by Georgia Public Broadcasting. The GHSA thanks GPB for its fine work. You may also enjoy these games in the future by availing yourselves of the “on-demand” options found on www.ghsa.tv. Now sit back and enjoy high school basketball at its finest!

Cordially yours,

Dr. Ralph E. Swearngin Jr. Executive Director

www.ghsa.net 3 Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships tournament schedule Thursday, March 7 Time Class Visiting Team/Home Team 3 PM A – Public Girls Randolph-Clay vs. Gordon Lee 4:45 PM A – Public Boys Wilkinson Co. vs. Wilcox Co. 7 PM AAAA Girls Sandy Creek vs. Columbia 8:30 PM AAAA Boys Columbia vs. Eagle’s Landing

Friday, March 8 Time Class Visiting Team/Home Team Noon AAASP Wheelchair West Georgia vs. Houston Co. 3 PM AA Girls Laney vs. Wesleyan 4:45 PM AA Boys Bleckley County vs. GAC 7 PM AAAAA Girls Miller Grove vs. Southwest DeKalb 8:30 PM AAAAA Boys Gainesville vs. Miller Grove

Saturday, March 9 Time Class Visiting Team/Home Team 11 AM A – Private Girls SW Atlanta Chr. vs. St. Francis 12:45 PM A – Private Boys Greenforest Chr. vs. St. Francis 3 PM AAA Girls Dawson County vs. St. Pius X 4:45 PM AAA Boys Johnson, Savannah vs. Savannah 7 PM AAAAAA Girls Norcross vs. North Gwinnett 8:45 PM AAAAAA Boys Hillgrove vs. Norcross Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

GPB President and Executive Director pals, parents, athletic directors and other special Teya Ryan noted that GPB’s coverage will guests each Friday night during the football sea- highlight not just the basketball action, but the son, and GPB Sports is bring the Tailgate Party GPB communities that support the teams involved. inside the Macon Coliseum. In addition to the “That is part of our mission as public normal fare, Harmon has promised a few spe- SPORTS broadcasting, that we support the whole com- cial guests including the GM/head coach of the munity,” said Ryan. “Our coverage should Atlanta Dream Fred Williams as well as Miller show GPB’s commitment to high school Bargeron and Larry “Gator” Rivers, a pair of GPB set for comprehensive finals coverage sports. We fully support as many high school filmmakers that have taken on a documentary By Fletcher Proctor sports as possible, and we’re about to see project about the 1967 Beach High School team some of the best basketball in the state.” that won the GHSA’s first integrated state tour- ith the 2013 GHSA basketball champion- three days, bringing every basket, bounce and nament at Georgia Tech. Rivers was a member Wships now here, readers may notice sev- squeak to your television or computer. MACON CHANGES ... of that team before going on to fame with the eral differences from one year ago. For starters, GPB Sports Director Mark Harmon will The GPB staff has been in Macon since Harlem Globetrotters. 15 championship games will take place instead host the action along with Kat Carney and Wednesday, preparing the Macon Coliseum “We’ll also preview the 2013 Corky Kell of the 11 from last year, as seven boys and seven Claire Simms, setting up the countless sto- for the three-day spectacle and steeling them- Classic and Georgia Traveler and Georgia girls titles plus the team wheelchair basketball rylines and prepping you for what could be selves for the continuous live coverage. Geor- Outdoors,” said Harmon. championship will be handed out over the next the best collection of announcers GPB has gia Public Broadcasting will stay on the air The Tailgate Party will also include exciting three days. All of the games will also take place ever put together to broadcast the basketball straight through from before the first games features such as a tour of the Georgia Sports Hall in Macon as the GHSA moved all of the title championships. Legends such as Gil Tyree, at 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. of Fame, located in Macon, and a look at The Big tilts to the Heart of Georgia after years of split- Tommy Palmer, Herb White, Bob Houghton on Saturday, through the final games of each House, aka the Allman Brothers Band Museum. ting up the finals between the Macon Coliseum and Jon Nelson will be joined by fresh voices night. Harmon, Carney and Simms will be With so much happening in and around and the Arena at Gwinnett Center. including UGA legends Shaun Golden and busy in between each game and during half- Macon over the next few days, the GPB Sports One thing that hasn’t changed, however, D.J. Shockley. time of each of the games. crew is sure to be busy; however, you can bet is Georgia Public Broadcasting’s incredible “We’ve got some great people lined up Harmon promised the return of the “Tail- that the all of the intense action and amazing live coverage of the basketball champion- to call the games,” said Harmon. “It will be gate Parties” first made popular during GPB’s storylines will be covered unlike ever before. ships. Georgia Public Broadcasting will be 36 hours of television and we are looking fantastic Football Fridays in Georgia broad- Proctor can be reached at live for more than 36 hours over the next forward to it.” casts. The popular segments interviewed princi- [email protected].

MaconColiseum AAASP wheelchair rosters

Houston Co. Sharks (6-0) No. Name No. Name 5 Gracie Webb 31 Jeff Sweeney 10 Jordan Kozloski 34 William Moore 11 Braxton Robinson 40 Ben Masters 14 Faith Bieker 41 David Presley 24 Kierra Miles 42 Ja-Que Billingsley Coaches: Brenda Arnett & Stephen Roberson

The 9,252-capacity Macon Coliseum is the entertainment center for Macon and Middle Georgia’s 30 surrounding counties. Built in 1968, it was the first facility of its size and type in the state and has housed full-house crowds for such greats as Elvis, The Jacksons, Billy Joel, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Elton John, and of course, Georgia high school basketball! In addition to concerts and family shows, the Coliseum is the perfect site for a variety of events from conventions and trade shows to ice shows, circuses and just about any other sport- ing or entertainment event you can imagine. And the location just can’t be beat. Located in the heart of Georgia, just 80 miles south of Atlanta and two miles off of I-75, more than two-thirds of Georgia’s population lives within one hour of the facility. West Georgia Wolverines (2-4) Looking for something to do during our event’s downtime? Not to worry. Welcome to No. Name Macon, one of the most historic, hospitable, happening places in the South. It is a place with all 1 Laura Ray the bustle of a big metropolis and all the charm of a small Southern town. Without a doubt, we have it all — from shopping and symphonies to professional sporting 3 Bryan Lanier events, theaters, museums, golf, historical tours and top-notch eateries! 4 Star Phillips Area highlights include: 5 Logan Wegienka • More than 4,000 hotel rooms and 200 restaurants, all close by 10 Joseph Ivey • One of the largest malls in the southeastern U.S. • More historic sites on the National Register of Historic Places than any other city in 11 Chrystal Ivey Georgia 13 Eugene Layne • Museums galore, including the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Museum of Arts 31 Douglas Johnston and Sciences, the Harriet Tubman African-American Museum, and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Museum. Coaches: Richard McIntyre For more info, call toll free at 877-523-6144 or go to www.maconcentreplex.com. & Ric McIntyre www.ghsa.net 5 Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

halls of GAC, Martin has plenty of firepower Tahj Shamsid-Deen of the Columbia with Collin Swinton and Isaiah Wilkins hop- boys will try to leave the Decatur school with ing to help the Spartans’ head coach earn his four state titles to his name before suiting up finals third title in his first five years with the pro- next year for Auburn. gram. Martin also won three titles with Nor- Wesleyan also has a host of players that feature cross before finding his way to GAC. will be playing women’s college basketball Wilkinson County captured the 2011 next season, but first, a shot at history is at Class A title on the strength of 11 seniors and stake for Jan Azar’s Wesleyan program. The Defending champs return looking for more a trio of juniors. After graduation gutted Aar- last girls program to win six straight state By Fletcher Proctor on Geter’s team, he has managed to rebuild titles was Hart County (1989-1994). Wes- around another talented senior class mixed leyan captured the 2008 Class AA title before with sophomore Torrico Simmons. winning the last four Class A crowns. With In 2010, the Southwest DeKalb girls won reclassification shifting schools into different the program’s third straight AAAA title. Af- classes, Wesleyan is back in Class AA look- ter a down year in 2011, Southwest DeKalb ing to bookend that 2008 title with a record- reached the finals last year before falling to tying sixth. If not for a loss to Greater Atlanta Miller Grove. Now, the Panthers are back and Christian in the 2007 state finals, Wesleyan ready to exact some revenge for the champi- would be chasing its 10th straight crown. onship game defeat from one year ago. ALL EYES ON WHITE ... DEFENDING THE CROWN ... While Wesleyan is trying to match a The Miller Grove girls aren’t anxious to record Miller Grove is angling for a fifth give up the title of champion just yet, espe- straight crown, which would break the tie that cially to Region 6-rival Southwest DeKalb. the Wolverines currently share with Westover Kathy Walton’s Panthers got the better of (1990-93). Head coach Sharman White has Renee Breedlove’s Wolverines in the region seen some incredible talent during this current tournament after falling to Miller Grove three run, but had to replace five starters from last f several of the teams in this year’s GHSA bas- AAAAAA titles. Dating back to 2006, the Nor- times earlier this season. Many of the play- year’s team. He didn’t have a bare cupboard ketball finals look familiar, it is because they cross boys have captured four titles. Jesse Mc- I ers that competed in last year’s AAAA finals as eight players returned from last year’s team are. Five defending champions have made the fi- Millan was at the helm two years ago and has will be going at it again this year, including and he was the beneficiary of playing in the nals yet again as well as five more than captured this squad playing incredibly well since the end Miller Grove’s Tashi Thompson, Katie Hunt always-tough Region 6-AAAAA. the GHSA’s top prize in either 2010 or 2011. of football season when reinforcements arrived and Klarissa Weaver as well as Southwest Dating back to 2004 when Mays won The Miller Grove boys and girls are both to help the Blue Devils. The Norcross girls, DeKalb’s Deja Clay and Calyn Kelly. the first of two straight, the last nine AAAA back trying to repeat as are Columbia’s boys meanwhile, won back-to-back titles in 2010 and Columbia, coached by Chantay Frost, champions came from what is now a loaded and girls teams. The Miller Grove boys program 2011 before falling just short last year. went 24-5 last year to win the program’s sec- Region 6-AAAAA. has won four straight titles and now is seeking Greater Atlanta Christian is back in the ond title in three years and, this year, Colum- While many familiar faces will be in Macon a AAAAA crown to make it five in a row. The GHSA finals after losing to finalist Manches- bia (26-3) has battled through Pickens Coun- this week, there is still room for new blood and Columbia boys are right behind Miller Grove ter last year in the quarterfinals. Eddie Mar- ty, LaGrange, River Ridge and Jonesboro to that is what the other teams such as Gainesville, with three straight and seeking a fourth in Class tin’s Spartans won the Class AA title in 2010 reach Macon. Senior Miah Spencer and junior Dawson County, St. Pius X and Randolph-Clay, AAAA after moving up from AAA. before successfully defending the title in Yaktavia Hickson both tasted a championship among others, are hoping for this weekend. Norcross pulled off a sweep in 2011 and 2011. Despite most of the important players last year and will be inspired to try to pull off Photos courtesy of Ty Freeman. Proctor has both teams ready to play for the Class from the last title team no longer roaming the the repeat bid. can be reached at [email protected]. Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

AAAAAA GIRLs preview Stephen Black north gwinnett North Gwinnett Lady Bulldogs 30-1, Region 7 Head Coach: Bryan Sellers Coach Bryan Sellers’ team rode the prolific scoring of seniors Peyton Whitted and Lexie Brown with No. Name Pos. Gr. the rebounding of junior Stephanie Amichia and shooting of junior guard Baylee Rexing to a school-best 30-1 record this season. 4 Lexie Brown PG 12 The Bulldogs can match up with Norcross, one of the few teams in the state that could dream of mak- ing such a statement. While the Blue Devils possess all-everything senior Diamond DeShields and talented 5 Baylee Rexing SG 11 teammate Shayla Cooper, the Bulldogs boast Whitted, a Penn State signee, Brown, a Maryland signee, and 10 Emily Toomer SF 10 Rexing, an Ole Miss commitment. North Gwinnett’s only loss, however, came to the Blue Devils on Jan. 23. Brown averages 18.5 points per game and scored nine against North Cobb in the semifinals. The War- 12 Alyssa Munlyn PF 10 riors’ tough matchup zone gave the Bulldogs trouble for quarter before a 19-7 run in the second quarter yielded a 31-23 halftime edge. Whitted totaled 13 for North Gwinnett in the semifinal while Amichia 15 Joshlyn Belcher SG 11 had 14. Sophomore Alyssa Munlyn, daughter of former Georgia Tech stat James, added 12 off the bench. 21 Oma Nkele G 12 Perhaps bigger than any scoring stats from the North Cobb game, however, was Amichia’s game-high 17 rebounds. It was her 13th double-double of the season. 22 Jenifer Jacobs G 11 The inside-outside combination of the Bulldogs has been impossible for anyone - except Norcross that is - to solve this season. North Gwinnett can rebound and pound opponents into submission down low, or 23 Stephanie Amichia P 11 they can shoot the lights out from the perimeter. Making three-pointers could be the difference against the Blue Devils. In the two wins over Norcross the Bulldogs nailed 15 total threes, while in the lone loss, North 24 kenisha Wilborn SF 12 Gwinnett made just one. Rebounding is another area to watch in this matchup. In the loss to Norcross, 25 Peyton Whitted PF 12 North Gwinnett grabbed just 21 rebounds. In the two wins, the Bulldogs totaled 65. norcross Norcross Lady Blue Devils 27-5, Region 7 Head Coach: Angie Hembree The Blue Devils are in their fourth final four in four years and are gunning for the program’s third state No. Name Pos. Gr. championship in that same time span. Behind the recent emergence of the Norcross girls program becom- ing one of the state’s dynasties is sensational senior shooting guard Diamond DeShields. The daughter 10 Sydney Marshall PF 11 of former Major League Baseball player Delino, the 6-2 dynamo has captured about every honor a high 11 Javonne Stanfield SG 12 school player can achieve. In addition to the team hardware Norcross has won in her four years, DeShields 12 Audrey Holloway SG 10 was recently named the Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year. The award is one of the top honors for a high school basketball player and has been handed to the nation’s top player since 1987. 13 Bri Williams PG 11 A North Carolina signee, DeShields led Norcross in the semifinal blowout of Langston Hughes with 20 kolby Meeks SF 11 21 points, while fellow senior and Georgetown-signee Shayla Cooper added 15. The Blue Devils domi- 22 Diamond DeShields SG 12 nated Hughes throughout the semifinal. Norcross sped to a 28-7 lead at the end of one quarter behind 15 from DeShields. At halftime, the score ballooned to 42-7 after the Devils shut out their opponents in the 23 Nya Dawson G 10 second period. The gigantic lead peaked at 56-7 midway through the third quarter. 24 Allison Johnson PF 10 The semifinal explosion came as a reminder that the Blue Devils were upset in last year’s final four by eventual-state champion McEachern. Norcross did not mess around with Hughes as a result. However, 25 Benna McCoy PG 10 in the final stands North Gwinnett, the only in-state team to have defeated Norcross this season. After 30 Deja Smith SG 11 dropping the initial contest of the year to the Bulldogs, coach Angie Hembree’s squad dominated North 31 Sierra Butler C/F 11 Gwinnett 46-29 on Jan. 23. But North Gwinnett won the the third game between the two in the region tournament on Feb. 16. 32 Shayla Cooper SF 12

8 www.ghsa.net Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

AAAAAA BOYs preview Stephen Black

Norcross Norcross Blue Devils 26-6, Region 5 Head Coach: Jesse McMillan While Hillgrove is in its first-ever finals, Norcross is a veteran in this stage of the tournament. The Blue No. Name Pos. Gr. Devils have now made six of the last nine finals and won four of them. Their last time here was in 2011, when 1 William Gibbons G 11 an underrated band of Devils upset goliath Milton to achieve one of the great upsets in state finals history. 2 Jalen Davis G 11 This year’s squad rolls into Macon having won its last 16 games, its last loss coming on Jan. 11 to Mill 3 khalen Pinkett G 11 Creek. Two of the Devils’ losses came to finalists in other classes, Miller Grove (AAAAA) and Columbia 4 Devin Huffman G 10 (AAAA). Norcross, however, defeated Class A-Private finalist Greenforest Christian while also knocking 5 Jordyn Thomas G 11 off Dematha (Md.), one of the top programs in the nation, during the Hilton Invitational. 11 Brandon Goodwin G 12 As always, coach Jesse McMillan’s squad is talented, if a tad young. The Bue Devils boast just two se- 12 Andre Chatfield G 11 niors in Brandon Goodwin and Terrance O’Donohue. Goodwin, a 6-0 point guard, is the star of the show 15 Terrance O’Donohue F 12 leading the team in scoring on several occasions. In the semifinals win over a solid North Cobb squad, Goodwin led all scorers with 26, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Goodwin has received a bevy of of- 21 Nnamdi Van Dulm G/F 10 fers from mid-major programs, including Southern Miss, Georgia State, MTSU and Northeastern. Juniors 22 Lorenzo Carter F 11 Andre Chatfield and Khalen Pinkett are also scoring threats at guard. 23 Myles Autry G 11 O’Donohue rules the paint, but can also hit the mid-range jumper. The College of Charleston signee 25 Ricky Madison F 10 stands 6-7, above average for a high school power forward. Junior forward Lorenzo Carter combines with 32 Robert Grundy F 11 O’Donohue to pack a nice 1-2 punch in the interior. A star defensive end in football with offers from doz- 33 Thomas Cameron F 11 ens of the nation’s top programs, Carter grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds in the semifinals win while also 35 Chris Herndon F 11 scoring eight points. 44 Rasheed Stanley C 11

Hillgrove Hillgrove Hawks 29-4, Region 4 Head Coach: Ed Morris The Hawks are making their first appearance in the state finals in boys program history after a stirring No. Name Pos. Gr. 56-54 defeat of traditional-power Wheeler. Once an afterthought in Cobb County basketball, Hillgrove 3 Aren Screen PG 12 stepped to the forefront with its win over the acclaimed Wildcats and will now try to take down another 4 Shamari Southwell PG 12 perennial power in Norcross. 5 B.J. Brown PF 11 Leading the charge for coach Ed Morris’ Hawks is junior forward Kyle Castlin, who dropped 20 points in the semifinals along with grabbing eight rebounds and four steals. Senior guard Jordan Sexton didn’t 10 Myles Johnson SG 11 start, but added 17 points to the Hawks’ cause while junior forward Keith Ray had eight points, including a 11 kyle Castlin SF 11 crucial free throw late that pushed the Hillgrove lead to three. Castlin has led the team in each playoff game 12 keith Ray PF 11 in the scoring department. 15 Jordan Sexton PG 12 Hillgrove took charge in the semifinals win during the late third quarter, when the Hawks embarked 20 Jeremy James SF 11 on a 15-2 run that gave them a 47-39 in the fourth. Castlin had eight points during that stretch. In the quarterfinals, Castlin led the team with 18 while fellow junior B.J. Brown, a power forward, had 21 Jonathan James SF 12 15 including nine in the fourth quarter. Ray tallied 10 against the Pirates. 22 Jourdan Julian SG 10 Castlin dropped 19 on Tri-Cities in the second round while Ray added 18 and Brown had 14. 23 John Franklin PF 12 The Hawks were one of the most consistent teams in the state this season, losing just four games, three 30 T’Dre Dade PG 10 of which came to Region 4-nemesis North Cobb. In the playoffs, however, Hillgrove rolled past Valdosta, 32 Dajon Fuller PF 11 Tri-Cities and Brunswick by an average of 11 points per game prior to the Wheeler win. 33 Brandon Schick SF 10 It has been a record-setting season for Hillgrove, which made its first final four and set a school mark for victories by surpassing the previous mark of 27. 42 Aaron Bailey PF 11

www.ghsa.net 9 Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

AAAAA GIRLs preview Stephen Black

Southwest dekalb Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers 23-8, Region 6 Head Coach: Kathy Walton Coach Kathy Walton’s squad experienced growing pains this year after making the finals last season. No. Name Pos. Gr. The Panthers lost five games before the end of December, but are now on an eight-game winning streak 3 Casey Kelly G 10 and have lost just one of their last 16 contests. Southwest DeKalb entered the region tournament with the 4 Davion Wingate G 10 No. 4 overall seed, but won games against highly-ranked Tucker and Miller Grove to win the tournament 10 Calyn Kelly G 12 in a surprise. Sophomores Tynice Martin and Davion Wingate have personified the Panthers’ young, but 12 Ariel Walker G 12 talented roster, and are the top two scorers on the squad. 15 Diamond Porter G 10 In the finals, the Panthers will take on Miller Grove for the fifth time this year, but have won just a 20 Daisa Alexander G 9 single contest against their region rivals. However, that one win was the last meeting between the two and 22 Darsan DeShazier G 11 gave SWD the region tournament championship. Walton’s squad has not lost, in fact, since a Jan. 29 defeat 23 Tynice Martin F 10 by the Wolverines. 24 kiiana Mitchell G 11 Martin led the Panthers in that game with 22 points and 13 boards while Wingate poured in 15 and 32 Miaya Crowder F 12 had four steals. In contrast to that win, Walker had just eight points in the Jan. 29 loss and Wingate did not play. As a team, the Panthers made just 10 of 46 field goals on Jan. 29 while in the win, Southwest made 28 33 Cori Bostic F 9 free throws. 34 Ayranna Smith G 9 Southwest DeKalb won three straight state titles from 2008-2010 and has now made the finals in five of 40 Tangela Williams F 10 six seasons. But DeKalb-neighbor Miller Grove won the state championship last season and has emerged 45 Deja Clay C 12 as a major rival of the Panthers. SWD has lost five of six to Miller Grove, but a win in the finals would help 55 Taylor Smith F 11 the Panthers forget about those shortcomings. Ashlyn Edwards G 10 miller grove Miller Grove Lady Wolverines 26-5, Region 6 Head Coach: Renee Breedlove Miller Grove returns to the finals looking to repeat last season’s championship. And Southwest DeKalb No. Name Pos. Gr. is waiting for them, a team which the Wolverines defeated last year in the finals, beat three times this regu- 3 Janet Johnson F 12 lar season, then fell to in the region tournament. The two DeKalb schools make up what has become one of the top rivalries in Georgia high school hoops. 4 Imani Richardson G 9 This year’s Wolverines are led by a whopping eight seniors, who each play a major role on the team. 5 Jessica Housley G 12 Guard Tashi Thompson has the highest scoring average on the team at 13 points-per game while center Klarissa Weaver - a UNC-Asheville signee - averages 11 per game along with 3.3 blocks and eight boards. 10 Shaquanda Durden F/G 12 Shooting guard Katie Hunt averages about nine points per game and leads the squad in assists and steals. 12 Sharieka Brown G 12 The Grove, as the team is often referred to by fans, lost four of its five games this year to teams from 21 Catika Brown F 11 DeKalb. Two losses came to teams from outside Class AAAAA, St. Francis (A) and Columbia (AAAA), and both of those teams made the finals in their respective classes. Coach Renee Breedlove’s team is bat- 22 Tashi Thompson G 12 tled-tested, having played in hands-down the toughest region in Class AAAAA. 24 katie Hunt G/F 12 Miller Grove got here with its exceptional defense, which held opponents under 50 in all but two 30 klarissa Weaver C 12 games and under 60 in all but one - the region final loss to Southwest DeKalb. In the lopsided semifinal win over Effingham County, Breedlove’s team held its opponent without a field goal for the first 15 minutes 31 Sarai Blessett C 10 of the game and surrendered a paltry five field goals all game. 32 Chrystal Ezechukwu C/F 9 With a win this weekend along with a victory by the boys team, Miller Grove will become the first program in state history to have swept the boys and girls titles in consecutive seasons. 33 Aneifiok Udofia F/G 12

10 www.ghsa.net Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

AAAAA BOYs preview Stephen Black

Miller Grove Miller Grove Wolverines 29-3, Region 5 Head Coach: Sharman White Coach Sharman White has his Wolverines playing for their fifth straight state championship this No. Name Pos. Gr. weekend. Miller Grove won titles in Class AAAA the past four years and have not missed a beat in the 1 keith Pinckney PG/SG 11 program’s first season in AAAAA. While stars like Tony Parker, Mfon Udofia and Donte Williams have 2 kendall Williams SG/PG 10 led Wolverines squads in the past before heading to college programs, this current group - known for its balance - is not devoid of talent. Freshman Alterique Gilbert has led the team from the point guard posi- 3 Alterique Gilbert PG 9 tion and will give opponents trouble for three more years. Gilbert is average nine points per game, leads 4 Raylon Richardson SF 9 the team in steals and is second on the team in assists. Junior guard Keith Pinckney leads the Wolverines 10 Gamaun Boykins PG/SG 10 in assists and also drops about 14 points per game. The team’s leading scorer is senior Kyre’ Hamer with a 11 Deven Dorsett SF/PF 11 16.7 average, while fellow senior Earl Bryant averages 13 per game. James Walker, a 6-5 junior, leads the team in rebounding and blocked shots from his power forward position. 12 James Walker PF/C 11 Miller Grove, the Region 5 champion, has not lost to an in-state team since a Dec. 21 loss to Columbia. 13 Earl Bryant SG/SF 12 The Wolverines also dropped games to McEachern in the season-opener and on Dec. 27 to Westlake (Calif.) 14 David Burke SG 11 in the MaxPreps Holiday Classic. The Purple and Black has not lost to a Class AAAAA foe this season. 20 Johnquavious McBride SG 12 In the playoffs, the Grove has stomped three opponents while beating Tucker by five points in the quarterfinals for a 27.6-point average margin of defeat. White’s squad has scored as many as 102 points in 24 kyre’ Hamer SG/SF 12 a game this year while allowing as few as 21 points. The Purple and Black can win with either a dynamic 25 Daeshon Street SF 10 offense or a relentless defense. 33 Omar Venable C 11

Gainesville Gainesville Red Elephants 23-9, Region 8 Head Coach: Todd Cottrell If you’re searching for a Cinderella story, look no further. After a regular season that included 9 losses the No. Name Pos. Gr. surprising Red Elephants have won 15 straight, including a region tournament championship and four straight 1 Caleb Hayman F 12 in the state playoffs. The playoff wins have each been excruciating close, coming by a combined seven points. 2 Rodney Lackey G 10 Late heroics have been the story for Gainesville in the playoffs. Senior Jikeese Ruff hit two free throws in a 60-58 quarterfinals win over New Manchester with just seconds remaining. The second-round win 3 Tray Harrison G 12 over Mays was even closer at 41-40 and the Red Elephants scraped by Hiram 70-67 in the first round. In a 4 Deshaun Watson G 11 63-62 semifinal win over Effingham County, 5-4 point guard Tray Harrison found a crease in the lane and 5 Luke Moore G 12 drove for the game-winning layup. As was often the case throughout the season, senior guard Shaquan 11 Luke Maddox G 10 Cantrell - a University of North Georgia commitment - led the team in scoring with 17, while junior guard 14 Ithello Cross C 11 Deshaun Watson scored 14. Cantrell averages more than 19 points while Watson is second on the team in scoring with 12. Fans 20 Reed Tipton F 12 may be familiar with Watson after the quarterback’s record-breaking season on the gridiron in which he 22 Jikeese Ruff G 12 led Gainesville to the state title by putting up video game-like numbers throughout the season. 23 Shaquan Cantrell F 12 Coach Todd Cotrell’s squad received a huge boost after Watson and other football players returned to 30 Markis Witt G 12 the hardwood. After falling to 1-6 on Dec. 22, Gainesville lost just three more times all season. The Red and Black’s last loss, in fact, came on Jan. 19 to Christ School (N.C.). Cantrell, though, is the engine that drives 32 Mckay Aiken F 11 Gainesville. While leading the team in scoring, Cantrell is also is tied for the team lead in steals and has the 33 Marvin Randolph F 12 most rebounds and blocks. 34 Chase England F 12

www.ghsa.net 11 Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

AAAA GIRLs preview craig sager II

Columbia Columbia Lady Eagles 26-3, Region 6 Head Coach: Chantay Frost Columbia looks to win a third state title in four years and has shown to be a back to championship No. Name Pos. Gr. form all season, but had to tread through adversity in their semifinal matchup with Jonesboro to get back 2 Natalie Williams G 10 to Macon. The Cardinals led Columbia 27-13 at the half and 35-24 to start the fourth quarter. Eagles for- ward Yaktavia Hickson and guard Miah Spencer are prolific scorers and finally found their range in the 10 Malisha Harris W 10 second half. Hickson finished with 18 points and Spencer scored 16 to pull off their late comeback in the 11 Ariel Beavers W 11 49-44 win. Hickson and Spencer are high-percentage shooters and come in averaging in double figures on the season. Hickson can create her own shot from the post and Spencer has the range and quickness allow- 13 Miah Spencer G 12 ing her to get quality shots off. 15 Williams Janay P 10 The stage is set for an intense guard matchup with Sandy Creek’s Jarmon and Columbia’s Spencer 22 kyle Felton C 10 where the smaller 5-foot-4 Jarmon will try to get to the lane and draw contact and fouls. Spencer will look to find her spots against Jarmon and the pesky Patriots defense and will not hesitate to take the midrange 23 Menefee Jacila G 11 jumper if it is there for the taking. The Eagles have won 17 of their last 18 games heading in and are scoring 25 Pate Tameesha F 10 58.7 points per game while allowing only 35.3. Down low, Sandy Creek’s Martin has the height advantage and 6-1 sophomore centers Starr Nowell and Kyle Felton will have to keep the Temple commit bodied up 32 Shaundricka Mann PF 12 on the boards. Head Coach Chantay Frost will be involved with another great coaching matchup with King 33 Shamyiah Smith G 12 and will need to find sparks off the bench to match the Patriots’ depth and defensive rotation. Shamyia 42 Yaktavia Hickson W/F 11 Smith, Spencer and Shaundricka Mann are the only three seniors on a young Eagles team that is made up of three juniors and six sophomores. 45 Starr Nowell C 10

Sandy Creek Sandy Creek Lady Patriots 25-6, Region 5 Head Coach: Cedric King Sandy Creek plays in its first state title game overflowing with confidence. The Patriots amassed No. Name Pos. Gr. impressive wins over top seeds as the underdog and did it on the road and by double-digits. In the 3 Recee Walker G 12 opening round they beat Madison County 50-25, passed Marist 47-39, and ousted Redan 50-47 in the quarterfinals. They were the only seed other than a No. 1 or No. 2 in both girls and boys in all clas- 5 Minnae Harris G 11 sifications to make it out of the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they topped Mary Persons. During 10 Sydney Jarmon G 11 Sandy Creek’s tournament run, the Patriots are allowing just 33.5 points per game. Sydney Jarmon is 11 Courtney Street G 12 a junior guard and comes off a big 16-point game against Mary Persons. She plays at a constant fast pace that she will come out and set early. 12 Jasmine Jones G 11 Coach Cedrick King uses his team’s depth to maintain it throughout the game. Courtney Street scored 20 Nyla Battle G 11 11 points in the semis and is a double-figures scorer at guard. Up to nine players will typically see action for 21 Brittney Johnson G 9 the Patriots and the result is a relentless run-and-gun style offense and a fresh-legged lock down defense. Sandy Creek’s 6-3 Safiya Martin is one of the best in the state at both blocking and altering shots and can 31 Chloe Branch G 12 dominate in the half court set. Martin will be the last line of defense for the Patriots, while also battling to 32 Brianna Baitey G 10 control the glass. The senior and Temple signee posted two points, 14 rebounds and four blocks against in 33 Tyler Green F 11 her last contest. The team defense of the Patriots showed and only three players from Mary Persons were able to score in the game. King has coached in the championship before, leading Carver-Atlanta to the 35 Safiya Martin F 12 Class AAA State Championship where it fell 40-36 to the Columbia Eagles. 44 Allie Warren F 12

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AAAA BOYs preview stephen black

Eagle’s Landing Eagle’s Landing Golden Eagles 22-4, Region 4 Head Coach: Clay Crump All teams still left standing this weekend have been on a roll lately, but Eagle’s Landing has taken it to No. Name Pos. Gr. a different level. After dropping a game at the Upward Classic in Spartanburg, S.C., the Golden Eagles have 3 Chris Davenport PF/SF 12 won 18 straight contests, including three in the region tourney and four in the state tourney. In the semifinal against South Atlanta, coach Clay Crump’s squad outscored its opponent 28-8 in the 5 Maurice Green SG 12 fourth period after making an 18-5 run at the end of the third period. Senior shooting guard Trevin Joseph 10 Tyler Guice PF 11 had 30 in the game while senior small forward Isaiah Dennis scored 24. While Joseph and Dennis can put points on the board, seniors Desmond Ringer, Chris Davenport 11 Eric Wortham Jr. PG/SG 12 and Eric Wortham, Jr. also boast tremendous skills. Ringer, a 6-10 power forward, has signed with South 12 Trevin Joseph SG 12 Carolina, Wortham, a 6-5 combo guard, is committed to Middle Tennessee State, and Davenport, a 6-7 forward, boasts scholarship offers from Florida State, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. 20 Cameron Robinson SG 11 The Golden Eagles have rolled through their schedule since acquiring five early losses in out-of-town 21 Bradley Dewberry PG 11 tournaments. In fact, the only in-state team Eagle’s Landing has lost to was Class AAAAAA-giant Tift County. In the playoffs, the Golden Eagles have faced a variety of looks from outmatched opponents try- 22 Jordan Session PF 11 ing to find a way to stay with them. In the first round, for instance, Albany held the ball waiting for Eagle’s 23 Isaiah Dennis SF 12 Landing to come out of its zone defense. The 39-13 win over Albany as the lowest-scoring playoff game 25 Quinton Gordon SF 12 instate history since 1948, according to the Georgia High School Basketball Project. In the second-round win over Westover, Eagle’s Landing stretched a 12-point halftime edge into a 30 Warren Wright C 11 25-point lead in the third quarter. 32 Desmond Ringer PF 12 Columbia Columbia Eagles 27-3, Region 6 Head Coach: Kerry Sandifer One of the dominant programs in the state, Columbia can win its fourth state title in a row with a No. Name Pos. Gr. win over Eagle’s Landing. In fact, if the girls team wins as well, Columbia will become the first state team 10 kyle Wallace G 12 to sweep state titles in back-to-back seasons. Miller Grove, however, also has the opportunity in Class 11 Brice Brown G 10 AAAAA. Columbia swept the titles in 2010 and 2012, but the girls team lost in the 2011 semifinals to 12 Maurice Rivers F/G 11 Washington County. 13 Tahj Shamsid-Deen PG 12 Kerry Sandifer took over this season from long-time head coach Phil McCrary, who won five state 15 Shadell Bell G/F 10 titles at the Decatur program. Sandifer’s sqaud has not missed a beat, however, in rolling to yet another final. An early loss to Class AAAAAA program North Gwinnett and two more to Region 6-nemesis South 20 keshawn Warren G 10 Atlanta gave the Eagles pause, but four playoff wins by an average of 18 points-per game has basketball fans 22 kiair Crouch G 11 around the state once again in awe of Columbia. 23 Adonis Green F 9 Tahj Shamsid-Deen again leads the Eagles, the team he has starred for during the past three seasons. 24 Jordan Anderson F 12 The senior point guard averages an astounding 26 points-per game while leading the team in assists and 25 MacKendy Cheridor C 12 steals. An Auburn signee, Shamsid-Deen is one of the most exciting players to watch in the state. Behind 30 Nydrell Jack F 11 the superstar is a cast of quality players often overlooked due to Shamsid-Deen’s glow. Senior guard Kyle 32 Deshawn Cooper F 11 Wallace drops about 13 points per game while juniors Kiair Crouch and Maurice Rivers average about 11 33 Charles Rutledge F 11 points per game. 35 Eric Smith C 12 In the blowout win over Statesboro in the semis, Shamsid-Deen poured in 32 - 25 in the first half - with four assists and four steals. Rivers added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles, which led 39-23 at the half. 45 Chris Jones F 11

www.ghsa.net 13 Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

AAA GIRLs preview fletcher proctor

St. Pius X St. Pius X Lady Golden Lions 29-3, Region 6 Head Coach: Kyle Snipes The Region 6 champions have been on a roll since early January and have not lost to a Class AAA No. Name Pos. Gr. Georgia program all season. Kyle Snipes’ squad is paced by sophomore Asia Durr, a 5-foot-10 scoring 3 Miah Allen G 10 guard that fills up the rim at 21 points-per game. Against Chapel Hill in the AAA semifinals at Armstrong 5 Sabrina Thomas G 10 Atlantic State, Durr went for 27 points to help St. Pius X to a 59-51 victory. Snipes’ squad actually trailed early only to rally back for the win. Jasmine Carter connected for 17 points, just above the junior’s season 10 Obi Okafor F 10 average of 15.6 points per game and is shooting 49 percent from the field. 11 Hannah Jones G 9 While the team doesn’t miss much from the field (44 percent), Durr and Laura Redmond are two of 12 Nicole Rodriguez G 10 the standouts at collecting offensive rebounds. Redmond had nine rebounds in the win over Buford in 14 Anna Nelson F 11 the quarterfinals. Durr grabbed seven in that victory to go with 32 points to lead all scorers. And if teams collapse on Durr and Carter as Buford tried to do, senior MacKenzie Garrison is lethal from the outside. 15 Mackenzie Garrison G 12 For the season, she has hit 38 percent of her three-point attempts and is second to Durr with just 11 fewer 23 Jasmine Carter G 11 makes in 35 fewer shots. She drilled three in the quarterfinal victory as Pius rallied from down six to win. 24 Sally Varner F 10 St. Pius X has certainly faced a tough gauntlet to arrive in Macon, having taken out Region 7-champion 25 Asia Durr G 10 Buford 56-43 in the quarterfinals and Region 4-champion Chapel Hill in the semifinals. The Golden Lions have averaged 56.2 points per game in the postseason, just a tick below their regular season average of 56.3 30 Adriana Daves F 10 points per game. Opponents have scored on average 39 points-per game, up from the 30 per game the 32 Laura Redmond F 12 defense allowed during the regular season. 40 Courtney Tuttle F 11

Dawson County Dawson County Lady Tigers 27-5, Region 7 Head Coach: Steve Sweat Dawson County enters the AAA finals on a modest four-game winning streak after falling to Buford No. Name Pos. Gr. in the Region 7-AAA tournament championship game. However, Dawson County has survived thanks to 11 Jordan Moore G 10 tough defense and a dynamic inside-outside game that rivals some of the best in the state, regardless of 13 Madison Shope G 11 classification. Senior guard Carly Gilreath and sophomore post Sheyenne Seabolt are tough to stop, espe- 15 karlie Bearden G 9 cially if one gets going early like Gilreath did in the 66-50 semifinal victory over Southwest-Macon. Gil- reath came out firing early, connecting on a pair of long three-point attempts to clear out space underneath 20 Whitney Glover G 12 for Seabolt. The sophomore went to work with 27 points and 14 rebounds, collecting the few misses from 22 Alison Honea F 11 Gilreath, who went for 24 points in the victory. On the season, Gilreath has averaged more than 15 points 23 kacie Bearden G 12 per game while Seabolt has averaged just under 14 points. 24 Carly Gilreath G 12 Gilreath and fellow senior Kacie Bearden are dangerous from downtown. Ashley Parker helps out 25 Haley Burgess G 9 Seabolt with cleaning up misses as Parker is collecting more than six boards per game. As a team, Dawson County grabs more than 36 rebounds per contest and takes away about 15 steals per game. If Dawson 31 Peytan Porter G 9 County can use its size against St. Pius X, look for the Tigers to find some success from the outside as the 32 kenna Seitz F 12 Golden Lions try to collapse on Seabolt. A fast start is also important to Dawson County, though the Tigers 34 Ashley Parker F 10 won’t panic if they do fall behind early. Dawson County rallied from 15 down in the quarterfinal victory 35 Hannah Porter G 12 against Decatur and from seven down against North Oconee. Dawson County last made the GHSA finals 42 Sheyenne Seabolt F 10 in 1991 during a run of three straight trips to the Elite Eight under head coach Steve Sweat, but has never 44 Allie Costley F 12 captured a state title.

14 www.ghsa.net Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

AAA BOYs preview Fletcher proctor

Savannah Savannah Blue Jackets 28-3, Region 1B Head Coach: Tim Jordan The Savannah Blue Jackets are back in the finals for a second straight season and looking to win the No. Name Pos. Gr. Class AAA crown after falling short of the AAAAA title last year. Savannah is paced by senior guard 00 Quaron Hilliard C 11 Jovante Spivey that can score but also ignite the team through his defensive prowess. In the semifinals 1 Chris Cokley F 11 against Buford, Spivey finished with 14 points, including a clutch 3-pointer that put Buford on its heels. 2 Shakir Chisholm G 12 As a team Savannah is deadly from the outside, shooting 46 percent from the outside. Senior Quameer 3 Richard Miller G 11 Keith has the best percentage on the team of players with at least 12 attempts. Junior Jamal Norman has 4 Jermaine Williams G 10 upped his game since the playoffs began and he led the team with 16 points in the semifinals. Guards 5 Jovante Spivey G 12 Jermaine Williams and Jason Lawton can help fill out a stat sheet. 11 Devinere Simmons G 11 The wildcard will be junior center Chris Cokley. The Blue Jackets’ main threat in the post left the 12 Quameer Keith G 12 quarterfinal victory over Washington County after hitting his head on the hardwood during a fall. While 15 Jason Lawton G 11 a CAT scan revealed no broken bones, Cokley missed the team’s 54-50 semifinal victory over Buford. 20 Akeem Brown F 10 22 Tyreese Rivers F 12 Josh Young and Tyreese Rivers combined for nine points in the victory as head coach Tim Jordan tried 23 Rodney Culver F 11 to use the pair to replace Cokley’s production. This season, Cokley had been giving Jordan more than 24 Jamal Norman G 11 13 points per game with about eight rebounds and just under three blocks per contest. Savannah is cur- 32 Josh Young F 12 rently riding a 12-game winning streak including a victory over fellow finalist Johnson back on Feb. 15 33 Diqawn Mitchell G 9 in the Region 1-AAA tournament. Interestingly enough, the last team to defeat Savannah was Johnson 35 Calvin Jenkins F 11 back in late January. For the season, Savannah is scoring roughly 65 points-per game while allowing just Eric Newton G 10 more than 45 points on defense. Quanard Young F 10

Johnson, Savannah Johnson, Savannah Atom Smashers 24-6, Region 1A Head Coach: Marty Holder Any discussion of the Johnson Atom Smashers must begin with do-everything 6-foot-5 senior guard No. Name Pos. Gr. Tim Quarterman. The future LSU Tiger has been a dominating force this year as Johnson has stormed to 1 Tim Quarterman G 12 the finals seeking its first title since 1992. Quarterman went for 20 points against Tattnall County in the 2 Ramone Roberson G 11 3 Greg Mortimer G 12 quarterfinals and 18 more in the semifinals victory over North Hall. Quarterman also fills up the stat sheet 4 Robert Miller G 12 with rebounds, blocks and assists, including several to forward Devon Holmes in recent weeks. Holmes 5 Jamarey Lovett G 11 scored 12 points against Tattnall County including several alley-oop dunks as delivered by Quarterman, 10 Darrell Myers F 11 further showcasing his abilities. Guard Greg Mortimer is a tremendous athlete that can quietly score dou- 11 Adrian Bonds G 11 ble-digit points or loudly take over the scoring load when Quarterman is saddled with foul trouble. Guard 12 korey Clarke F 12 Rico Bonds is a scorer from the backcourt while 6-foot-8 Saadiq Muhammad and 6-foot-7 Darrell Myers 13 Samuel Mitchell G 11 allow for plenty of size underneath. 14 Dominique Mixon G 11 The athletic ability of first-year coach Utaff Gordon’s team easily transitions over to the defensive side 15 Tremaine Reeves G 12 20 Saadiq Muhammad G 12 of the ball as usually it is the defense that initiates the offense. In fact, it was Johnson’s suffocating defense 21 Devon Holmes G 12 that led to 27 turnovers for Tattnall County and later allowed just three North Hall Trojans to score in a 56- 22 Travon Elleby F 12 34 win in the semifinals. This season, Johnson held 12 opponents to less than 50 points in a contest while 23 Antwan Maxwell F 10 averaging more than 70 points offensively this year. A rough stretch this season against teams in higher 32 Jason Rhodes G 11 classification has given Johnson more losses than most other teams competing for a title in Macon, but 33 Cedric Woodson C 11 those close losses to Archer, Marist and Valdosta have set the bar for Johnson and shown the Atom Smash- 35 Dushard Morris G 10 ers how the team must raise its game. 42 Justin Stephens F 12

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AA GIRLs preview Fletcher proctor

Wesleyan Wesleyan Lady Wolves 27-4, Region 6 Head Coach: Jan Azar The Wesleyan Wolves are a dynasty with perhaps just one equal in the history of the GHSA. Jan Azar’s No. Name Pos. Gr. team is searching for a sixth straight state championship and, should the Wolves pull off the feat, Wesleyan 2 Hope Morgan G 10 would match Hart County (1989-1994) as the only program to win six in a row. Azar’s team is loaded with 3 katie Frerking G 12 playmakers of every sort with a nice collection of seniors and underclassmen making up a lethal squad that 4 Lauren Frerking G 10 has lost to just one in-state opponent. Seniors Katie Frerking, Brittany Stevens, Kendra Talley, Taylor Blackmon, Paige Mosley and Cara Mia 5 Brittany Stevens G 12 Tsirigos offer plenty of veteran presence to the team with sophomore Nikki McDonald and junior Landyn 10 kayla Pierce G 10 Duley also playing big parts this season. Frerking (Auburn), Talley (Presbyterian), Stevens (Samford), 12 Cairo Booker G 9 Blackmon (Kennesaw State) and Mosley (Towson) will all play basketball at the next level while Tsirigos 14 Taylor Casey G 9 (Indiana) will play softball in college. Frerking became the 10th player in Wesleyan history to post 1,000 15 Landyn Duley G 11 career points with 31 against Bremen in a 75-27 victory in the second round of the playoffs. The feat is 20 Nikki McDonald G 10 even more amazing considering Frerking missed her entire freshman season with an ACL injury and put 21 Danielle Summers G 10 up the 1,000 points over just three years. Frerking has been on fire all postseason, putting up 35 against 22 kendra Talley G 12 Armuchee, 31 against Bremen, 26 against Calhoun and 29 in the semifinals against Thomasville. Despite her 5-foot-4 size, Stevens is a fearless point guard, constantly squeezing herself into the lane for important 23 Taylor Blackmon G 12 baskets or finding teammates with crisp passes for easy shots. Stevens had five assists in the 83-34 victory 33 keevana Edwards F 11 over Thomasville. McDonald and Duley will likely be the future of the Wolves’ program but each is tossing 34 Paige Mosley F 12 in her fair share this year. McDonald and Duley both contributed eight points in the semifinal victory. 55 Cara Mia Tsirigos F 12

Laney Laney Lady Wildcats 30-0, Region 3B Head Coach: Otis Smart The Laney Wildcats are after the program’s first state title and have plenty of motivation after watching No. Name Pos. Gr. the boys win the Class AA GHSA basketball championship last year. Laney, which last Saturday upended 1 Monteria Harris G 11 previously-undefeated Kendrick 67-44, is solid inside as seniors Simone Smith (6-2) and Khadijiah Cave 4 Donecia Hudson G 11 (6-4) seemingly roam above the competition. Against Kendrick, Cave finished with 31 points and, in the 5 Jazzmine Youngblood G 12 opening quarter, blocked five shots. The skyscraping Cave has signed to play basketball at Baylor. Smith is 11 Gemiya Bowman G 9 a leader for the team that many teammates look to for motivation. She reached double figures in the win against Pelham, with most of her points coming early while the game still hung in the balance. 12 Aliyah Collier G 11 Head coach Otis Smart has plenty of firepower on the outside as well with guards Destiny Brewton, 14 Wynetta Wright F 11 Aliyah Collier and Gemiya Bowman. Collier is a tireless defender while Bowman is an offensive spark 15 Johna Whitehead G 9 despite being just a freshman. Junior Wynetta Wright can be counted on as a shutdown defender as the 6-3 20 Jonkota Samuels F 11 power forward locked in on Pelham’s Briunna Freeman and shut down the Pelham standout in the second 21 LaTonya Smith G 9 half of a 59-40 quarterfinals victory for Laney. This season, Laney has failed to score at least 60 points just 23 Destiny Brewton G 11 three times and the team’s closest margin of victory against an in-state opponent was six against Dublin. 31 Natarea Tanksley F 12 Since the end of the regular season, Laney steamrolled through the Region 3 tournament, dispatching Screven County and Dublin before pounding Toombs County to open up the state playoffs. Smart’s Wild- 32 Simone Smith F 12 cats whipped Taylor County in the Sweet Sixteen before beating Pelham by 19 and Kendrick in the semi- 50 Albreona Collier F 12 finals. The state finals is something new to Laney, as the program has never won a state title in the school’s 54 Jasmine Holman C 9 history and lost in the semifinals the last four seasons prior to this year’s breakthrough. 55 khadijiah Cave C 12

20 www.ghsa.net Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

AA BOYs preview Fletcher proctor

Greater Atlanta christian Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans 28-3, Region 6 Head Coach: Eddie Martin Eddie Martin has quickly put his fingerprints all over the Greater Atlanta Christian School program No. Name Pos. Gr. after arriving at the Norcross campus prior to the 2008-09 season. Since taking over, Martin guided the team to back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011 as well as a trip to the semifinals in 2009 and a spot in the 2 Eric Jamison F 10 quarterfinals last year. This season, Martin has the makings of another title team with plenty of inside 3 Justin Lewis F 11 muscle and some bombers from the outside. Senior Collin Swinton has put together an impressive senior season out of the backcourt with soph- 4 Troy Morrison G 11 omore Cameron Boyd a threat to pull the trigger on a 3-point attempt if he gets open. Troy Morrison 5 Collin Swinton G 12 is also capable of filling up the basket from the point guard position. Up front, senior Andrew Lewis is a big body that cleans up whatever mess the guards leave around the rim, but the superstar of the 10 Garrett Covington F 9 team is junior forward Isaiah Wilkins. The stepson of the legendary Georgia Bulldog and Atlanta Hawk 12 Cam Boyd G 10 Dominique, Wilkins has put together an incredible season, complete with a double-double average of points (16.3) and rebounds (10.7) per contest. He upped those numbers in the team’s quarterfinal win 14 Landon Tabor F 11 over Manchester, finishing with 21 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks. In the semifinals against defend- ing Class AA champion Laney, Wilkins tossed in 16 points while grabbing 14 rebounds, blocking three 20 Tyler Hamilton G 11 shots and altering many more. Swinton came to play as well with 14 points, right at his average (14.5) 21 Isaiah Wilkins F 11 on the season after scoring 19 against Manchester. Junior Justin Lewis might be the featured option on other playoff teams, but as a role player for the Spartans, Lewis chipped in seven points while grabbing 33 Charles Botchway G 9 10 rebounds in the victory over Laney. 43 Andrew Lewis C 12 bleckley county Bleckley County Royals 28-3, Region 4 Head Coach: Clifford Kerbo Cliff Kerbo’s Bleckley County Royals had never made the state finals prior to edging past Jordan 64-62 No. Name Pos. Gr. in last Friday’s semifinal victory to punch the program’s first ticket to the Class AA championship game. 2 Savon Walters 12 Bleckley County rallied early against Jordan before eventually needing overtime to dispatch of the Red 3 Dytrez Nelson 12 Jackets to move on. Senior Mario Beck has done everything asked of him this postseason, whether it is 5 Domonic Ligon 12 scoring early to set the pace or scoring late to help secure a victory. Beck finished with 33 points in Bleck- 10 ken Hughes 12 ley County’s win over Jordan after notching 18 in the quarterfinals against Vidalia, 22 against Westside- 11 D’andre Pitts 11 Augusta in Round 2 and 22 against Thomasville to open the postseason. Rydealous Taylor has also come 12 Jaderrick Farrow 12 up big for Kerbo’s Royals, netting 89 points through the first rounds of the playoffs. His 27 points against 14 Marquez Pitts 10 Vidalia were necessary as the Indians tried to take away Beck, forcing the senior Taylor to create his own offense and get to the line to earn valuable free throw opportunities. Taylor can stroke from the free throw 15 Rydealous Taylor 12 line, so look for him to continue to throw his body into opportunities to potentially draw fouls. 20 Damario Beck 12 Should the game come down to a free throw shooting contest, the Royals would likely feel confident 21 Jaequantae Burns 12 as the team has improved since shooting just 45-percent from the stripe in a loss to Taylor County in the 22 Jeremy Marshall 10 region championship game. Bleckley County has played close games all season long with the recent excep- 30 Shamar Slappy 10 tion being a 17-point victory in the first round of the state playoffs. Look for this talented senior class to 31 Trinity Gilbert 12 receive plenty of opportunities to take control of the game and try to rekindle the magic the team found 32 Shunkendrick Brown 11 during a 21-game winning streak earlier this year. kevonn Farrow 9

www.ghsa.net 21 Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

A-private GIRLs preview Craig Sager II

St. Francis St. Francis Lady Knights 23-8, Region 6 Head Coach: Aisha Kennedy Where St. Francis’ win over SACA might have sent the proverbial wake-up call, the Knights have been No. Name Pos. Gr. just as impressive accumulating momentum off their Region 6 tournament championship. The Knights 0 Jasmine Feraro G 9 have outscored their opponents by an average of 32.7 points per game while allowing only 26.7 points per game in the postseason. Sophomore Abby Grant and senior Antoinette Brown are the two primary 2 Jade Davis G 11 playmakers and each average about 14 points per game. Grant will be a key for the Knights’ offense, as the 3 Anastasia Stewart G 9 primary deep shooting threat. The sophomore scored 15 points off of five made three-pointers in the -War 5 Nigia Greene G 12 riors’ defeat and will certainly draw a lot of defensive attention this time around. Junior guard Candice Williams gives the Knights 12 points-per game and more than five assists while 10 Candice Williams G 11 being the type of player that can create high-percentage shots for herself. Williams is a sharp shooter who 12 Megan Kirkpatrick G 12 shoots over 70 percent from the foul line and does not hesitate to get there. The last time these teams faced 14 Antoinette Brown F 12 each other, Williams had a game-high 18 points off just three made field goals, and was a perfect a perfect 21 Sarah Robinson G 9 11-of-11 from the foul line. St. Francis combined for a 21-for-22 night from the foul line in the 54-49 win compared to the Warriors’ 6-for-8 night. 24 Amanda Tramble G 11 One area of concern is rebounding and Antoinette Brown, who leads the Knights with six boards per 32 katy Mathis F 10 game, will have to battle with the Warriors’ Amber Brown and Alexis Carter, who both are outstanding 34 Abby Grant G 10 rebounders. The Knights’ defense-first mentality is going to be the key in in the title game. They have been outstanding in their first three games and will try to stop Carter and the Warriors’ attack for the second 42 Yasmine Ratliff C 9 time this year. 43 Janel Thompson C 12

Southwest Atlanta Christian SW Atlanta Christian Lady Warriors 28-3, Region 6 Head Coach: Jackie Cowan Southwest Atlanta Christian has worn Georgia’s No. 1 ranking for most of the season in this classifi- No. Name Pos. Gr. cation. The Warriors’ last loss came to St. Francis in what was considered an upset in the Region 6 cham- 1 Tori Dozier G 10 pionship game, 54-49 on Feb. 16. Following the loss in the three state tournament games, the Warriors have been relentless and are ending their opponents’ chances often in the first half with particularly strong 5 keimeshia Walker G 9 opening quarters. 10 Marquita Daniels G 11 In their last three games, the Warriors have outscored their opponents by a massive 72-16 advantage in the first quarter. They are a solid defensive team and on average get 18.5 steals per game with junior 15 Alexis Carter C 12 Marquita Daniels leading the category with 4.6 per game. Senior Alexis Carter is the Warriors’ go-to player 20 kristin Carter F 10 on the post, and she scores 14.4 points per game while filling the stat sheet with 11 boards, four steals and 21 Amy Griffin F 11 four blocks-per game. Daniels has been a huge impact on the offensive side of the ball since the tournament tipped off and is 22 Mia Anthony G 12 scoring a team-high 21 points per game and dished out a season-high nine assists to go with her 19 points in 23 Amber Perkins G 10 the Warriors’ 78-43 semifinals win over Holy Innocents’. Forward Amber Brown is a consistent double-fig- 24 Lleah Jones G 12 ures scorer and averages over 12 points a game and 7.5 rebounds. The Warriors were not a great three-point team all season, but have been one of the state’s hottest teams as of late, by shooting a combined 22-of-37 for 25 Amber Brown F 12 59.5 percent beyond the arc in the state tournament. The Warriors have only shot 15 free throws in their three 30 kendall James F 12 blowout wins after averaging over 15 attempts per game prior. St. Francis held them to just eight attempts in the last matchup between these two squads, so look for the Warriors to try and increase the trips. 33 kelsey James F 12

22 www.ghsa.net Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

A-private BOYs preview Craig Sager II

St. Francis St. Francis Knights 23-8, Region 6 Head Coach: Cabral Huff St. Francis has won 12 straight games and boasts a young and high-powered offense led by sopho- No. Name Pos. Gr. mores Malik Beasley and Kaiser Gates and freshman Kobi Jordan-Simmons. The Knights average 70 points per game and come off a 93-74 win over Pace Academy in the opening round, an 80-56 win over 00 Jordan Jones SF/PF 12 W.D. Mohammed in the quarterfinals and a 61-56 semifinals win over Aquinas. In each of their three 1 Lance Pecot SG 11 tournament games, they have attempted 15 three-pointers and have knocked down 45 percent of them. They are red-hot from behind the arc entering the contest, but they do the majority of their work driving 2 kobi Simmons PG/SG 9 and attacking the rim. 3 Chris Steele SG 10 The Knights thrive off their trips to the foul line and they shoot a high percentage. In their last three games they have shot a staggering 80 total free throws. This aggressive offensive style combined with 5 Malik Beasley SG/PG 10 precise outside shooting scripts their offense. Beasley is the hot hand and comes in averaging a team- 12 McKinley Brown PG 11 high 15 points-per game. Jordan-Simmons and Gates are right behind with 14- and 13-point averages, respectively. This young team averages 13.4 offensive rebounds per game. On defense, the Knights aver- 14 Nathan Waller PF/SF 10 age 10 steals per game with Jordan-Simmons averaging 2.1. Defensively, the challenge will be stopping 15 keshawn Gibbs PG/SG 10 Greenforest center Tosin Mehinti, and the 6-8 Jordan Jones will likely join forces with 6-9 sophomore Josh Coleman and 6-7 Gates to keep him checked all game. This is a high-energy team that profits from 22 kaiser Gates PF/SF 10 their young talent and aggressive offense. It is one of the most talented offenses in the state and their 30 Josh Coleman C 10 young gun Jordan-Simmons is having an incredible tournament, averaging 19 points per game and shooting 64 percent from three-point range. 31 Carson White PF 9

Greenforest Christian Greenforest Christian Eagles 26-4, Region 5 Head Coach: David Jones Greenforest Christian earned the tournament’s top seed after cruising to double-digit victories over No. Name Pos. Gr. Paideia, Pace Academy and Landmark Christian for the region title. After the state bracket opened, the 00 Faisal Abdul-Amlik PF 10 Eagles continued their double-digit stroll through the first two rounds of competition in the state tourna- ment winning 67-39 over Savannah Christian and 63-29 over Calvary Day. In the semis, they beat Athens 1 Marco Bennett SF 10 Christian 60-55 behind a monster game from 6-foot-9 postman and MaxPreps.com Player of the Year 2 Adam Ellis PG 9 Tosin Mehinti. Mehinti flirted with a triple double and the UAB commit totaled 12 points, 16 rebounds and eight 4 Rashad Swain PG 12 blocks. The Eagles are known for their size and distribution of scorers. No player has a bigger presence or impact than Mehinti, however. Faisal Abdul-Malik is a 6-6 sophomore that reached double figures with 11 5 Precious Ayah PF 9 points in the semifinals. Freshman John Ogwuche and senior Ugo Celestine each had seven points in their 10 John Ogwuche SG 9 semi-finals win and add to the physically gifted roster. Sharp shooting from sophomore guard Justin Rav- enel compliments a team that requires opponents to spend much time and energy slowing down the bigs. 11 Justin Ravenel SG 10 Ravenel will not hesitate to pull up with his quick release and knock down big shots. Ravenel can reach 12 Ugo Celestine SF 12 double figures on any given night and can drive and feed it back to the post if they are rotating too heavily towards him. The Eagles aim to overpower teams and can dominate in the half-court offense. The bigs are 15 Jonathan Manigo SG 11 athletic enough to run and gun and play transition ball but the offense works best at their 64.3 points per 21 Tosin Mehinti C 12 game where they can slow teams down and use their length to cut off the passing lanes and disrupt the opponent’s offense. 25 William Turner SF 11

www.ghsa.net 23 Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

A-public GIRLs preview Craig Sager II

Gordon Lee Gordon Lee Lady Trojans 24-7, Region 6 Head Coach: Lester Galyon Gordon Lee is coming off a 57-49 win over Towns County in the semis, where the Trojans were able No. Name Pos. Gr. to push through some postseason adversity. Their best scorer and pacesetter, Kassidy Blevins, was in early 1 katherine Chambers SG 11 foul trouble and would only play three minutes in the opening half. Coach Lester Gaylon had a decision to 3 Anna Pettigrew W/P 10 make and decided to trust the remaining cast to keep the Trojans out in front until Blevins could return in the third quarter. 5 kassidy Blevins PG 12 Kalei Kimbrell and Katelyn Lee were two of the players that made the huge contributions with 10 Sara Holcomb SF 11 their senior point guard on the bench and were able to maintain a 26-22 lead at the half. When Blevins 11 Abbey Bohannon SG/PG 11 returned to action it was just enough time to score a game-high 25 points and to erupt for a 16-point 12 katie Barger SG/PG 12 fourth quarter. Blevins proved why she is considered one of the most explosive scorers in the tourna- 14 kalei Kimbrell SF 12 ments. Kimbrell ended with nine points and 13 rebounds and the 6-4 junior, Lee had 11 points 15 re- bounds and four blocks. 21 Taylor Hartline SF/SG 12 The trio of Blevins, Kimbrell and Lee are all individually dangerous playmakers, but when the trio 23 Tori McElhaney SF 11 takes the court together they are a true force that plays in a rhythm. Gordon Lee is battle-tested heading 25 Tiffany Holland PG 10 into the championship and comes out of a highly-competitive region that houses three of the four state 30 Bree Sallee P 11 Class A teams in the championships (Southwest Atlanta Christian and St. Francis are in the private cham- 32 Sara Clayton SF 12 pionship). The Trojans are averaging 66.3 points-per game on offense and are allowing only 49. They have a 33 Avrie Weldon W/PG 9 constant weapon in Lee that has a lethal combination of height and athleticism to make one of the premiere last lines of defense when it comes to driving and cutting guards. Offensively, she draws double teams and 42 katelyn Lee C 11 still finds ways to score while generating second-chance opportunities. 44 Madelyn Lee P 9

Randolph-Clay Randolph-Clay Lady Red Devils 29-2, Region 1 Head Coach: Jennifer Acree Randolph-Clay has now won 29 of 30 games after a 57-34 win over Wilkinson County in the state No. Name Pos. Gr. semis. The No. 1 Red Devils outscored Wilkinson County 23-3 in the fourth quarter. Guard Kanekia Wash- 4 Alicia Mathis PG 9 ington averages 15 points a game and was the semifinal’s closer, scoring 12 of her game-high 20 points in 5 kaneika Washington SG/PG 12 the final quarter. Coach Jennifer Acree has an all-state talented freshman in Kobi Thornton who is averag- ing more than 14 points per game and is coming off a 10-point, 13-rebound game with five blocks. Kobi’s 10 kadera Parham PG 10 sophomore sister Brianna Thornton had five points 14 rebounds and three blocks in the semifinals victory 11 Adriana Blackmon SG/SF 12 and they are natural rebounders. 12 Jasmine Wilson PG 12 The sisters use great leverage while gaining position and battling for the glass and have the height and 20 Crystal Ricks SG 12 position to control this part of the game. Point guard Adriana Blackmon also achieved double figures in the semis with 12 points, which is right at her season average. Blackmon shoots an outstanding 60 percent 21 Whenika Washington SF 12 from the field and dishes out five assists per game. The Red Devils are a team that likes to play in defensive 30 Shaaliyah Lewis G 10 battles and will have their hands full with the Trojans’ trio of scorers and 6-4 center Katelyn Lee. They are 31 Amanda Hall SF 10 averaging 10 steals per game and more than three blocks and do a good job of turning the turnovers into 33 Alexis Cuff SF/PF 10 points. Rebounding is going to be a major factor in the Red Devils’ matchup. Both teams each had two players in their semifinal games that posted 13 rebounds or more and there is certainly a crucial battle 34 Damasia Wiggins SF 11 for the boards that is imminent. Randolph-Clay has eased to their final test winning by an average of 28.7 40 Brianna Thornton C/PF 10 points in the tournament. 44 kobi Thornton PF/SF 9

24 www.ghsa.net Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships

A-public BOYs preview Craig Sager II

Wilcox County Wilcox County Patriots 23-4, Region 2 Head Coach: George Kennedy The Patriots are in the state championship for the first time in 45 years. After edging Hancock No. Name Pos. Gr. Central 76-66 in the opening round, the No. 7 Patriots beat No. 2 Turner County 72-62 and No. 3 12 Telly Whitfield F 10 Portal 65-56 in the semis. The headliners have been Makail Grace and Jonathan Howard, who have gotten it done on both ends of the court. Grace is a physical point guard that is coming off an 18-point 14 Quinn Tisdol G 10 performance in the semifinals when he showed the full repertoire. The versatile guard has the physi- 15 Larry Munford F 12 cal tools to play on the post if needed and can play above-the-rim basketball while getting into the 20 Makail Grace G 12 lane with ease. Down low, the Patriots house one of the most physically gifted big men in the state. Their pri- 21 Anthony Sailor F 11 mary force for is their athletic big man Johnathan Howard. The physical 6-foot-6 post player has a 22 Calvin Rawls G 11 football scholarship to play receiver at North Carolina and scored a game-high 23 points in the win 24 Michael Everson F 10 over Portal. Howard is one of the fastest players on the court. He can hunt down fast-break oppor- tunities and protect the rim while slashing down court in transition and finish at the rim. Speed and 25 Antwan Benjamin F 9 athleticism script the Patriots’ offense and, when a physical battle ensues, Howard has the tools to win 30 Andrew Benjamin G 12 those battles while easily grabbing double-figure rebounds. Power forward Johnny Dwight will help 32 Jonathan Howard F 12 Howard down low along with Anthony Sailor, Antwon Benjamin and Jay Brown. The guards are going to be tested when they face the Warriors’ full-court press. Head Coach George Kennedy has molded 44 Johnny Dwight C 11 a high-effort team that is riding the hot hands of Grace and Howard. 52 Jay Brown F 10

Wilkinson County Wilkinson County Warriors 29-2, Region 7 Head Coach: Aaron Geter, Jr. Wilkinson County shoots for its second state title in three years after an 81-65 win over Jenkins Coun- No. Name Pos. Gr. ty into the semis. The Warriors are a great road team with plenty of experience that led them to a perfect 00 Malik Rickerson G 10 11-0 road record this year while going 5-1 on neutral ground. Sophomore point guard Torrico Simmons 1 Brian Marion G 12 had 12 points in the fourth quarter to reach his game-high total of 24 and teammate junior Derrick Tra- wick, Jr. had 14 points in the semis. 2 Dontavious Daniels G 11 Simmons and Trawick Jr. are consistent scorers capable of scoring rapidly. At 5-foot-9, Simmons is a 3 David Whipple G 12 speedy guard that uses his low dribble to penetrate and weave through the defense with great body control 4 Fred Green G 12 and a quick release that allows him to make tough shots and put great touch on the ball. The Warriors 5 Torrico Simmons G 10 are built with depth and a premiere transition type offense. In the second quarter of the semifinals head 10 Quantavious Jones G 10 coach Aaron Geter brought in his bench and a total of eight Warriors ended up scoring in what became a 29-point second quarter outburst. 11 Tray Little G 11 The scoring run was initiated from the defensive side. The full-court press forced six Jenkins County 12 Brandon Thorpe F 12 turnovers in the quarter. Wilcox County will have to survive the depth and full-court pressure that is so 15 Derrick Trawick Jr. G 11 successful with Wilkinson County’s abundance of pesky guards. At 6-6, Antonio Whipple is one of the 23 Jamerion Love G 12 Warriors’ go-to postman with 6-4 Kareem Sanders and and 6-2 Brandon Thorpe all making strong contri- butions offensively and defensively. Antonio’s older brother David is a 6-foot-3 guard that can close out on 24 Antonio Whipple F 11 shots quickly and find success on the pull-up jumper on offense. The Warriors’ run-and-gun offense has 33 kareem Sanders F 11 allowed them to put up 112 and 102 points in victories this year. 35 Deshavion Edmonds F 11

www.ghsa.net 25 Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships Georgia High School Association state BASKETball championships PAST state champions BOYS PAST STATE CHAMPIONS (SINCE 1970) Year AAAAA AAAA AAA AA A B C 1970 - - Decatur East Rome Early Co. Hogansville Arlington 1971 - - Carver, Col. Berrien Roswell Hogansville GAC 1972 - - Savannah Russell Calhoun Co. Hogansville GAC 1973 - - SW, Macon SW, Atlanta Bacon Co. West Point - 1974 - - Savannah SW, Atlanta College Park Hogansville - 1975 - - SW, Macon West Fulton College Park Monticello - 1976 - - Savannah West Fulton College Park Woodbury - 1977 - - LaGrange Brown Arnold GAC - 1978 - - SW, Macon Peach Co. Josey Clay Co. - 1979 - SW, Macon SW, Atlanta Arnold Dacula - - 1980 - Tompkins Decatur Lakeshore Hoganville - - 1981 - Baldwin West Laurens Crawford Co. Woodbury - - 1982 - Campbell Decatur Crawford Co. Central, Tal. - - 1983 - Marietta Gainesville Randolph-Clay Woodbury - - 1984 - Douglas, Atl. Gainesville Terrell Co. Woodbury - - 1985 - SW, Macon Lee Co. Central, Car. Woodbury - - 1986 - Wills Hart Co. Randolph-Clay Bible Baptist - - 1987 - Washington (Forfeited) Lakeshore Clinch Co. - - 1988 - Griffin Madison Co. Claxton Richmond Hill - - 1989 - SW, Macon Marist East Rome Clinch Co. - - 1990 - Southside Westover Mitch.-Baker Central, Tal. - - 1991 - Statesboro Westover Mitch.-Baker East Rome - - 1992 - Johnson, Sav. Westover Wash. Co. Greenville - - 1993 - Griffin Westover North Clayton Richmond Hill - - 1994 - Wheeler Marist Wash. Co. Richmond Hill - - 1995 - Dunwoody Westside Dodge Co. Atkinson Co. - - 1996 - Tift Co. Tucker Swainsboro Hogansville - - 1997 - Roswell Dougherty Cedar Grove Calhoun Co. - - 1998 - Savannah Westover Mitch.-Baker Seminole Co. - - 1999 - Marietta Westlake Mitch.-Baker Wilkinson Co. - - 2000 - Berkmar Marist Mitch.-Baker Wilkinson Co. - - 2001 Berkmar Dougherty Westover East Hall Taylor Co. - - 2002 Wheeler Westlake Cross Keys Wilkinson Co. Taylor Co. - - 2003 Wheeler Griffin East Hall Mitch.-Baker Whitefield Acad. - - 2004 S. Gwinnett Mays West Laurens Randolph-Clay SW Atl. Christian - - 2005 Wheeler Mays Dunwoody East Hall Randolph-Clay - - 2006 Norcross Columbia Dunwoody Dublin SW Atl. Christian - - 2007 Norcross Tucker Jordan Manchester Wilkinson Co. - - 2008 Norcross Columbia Glenn Hills Wesleyan Hancock Cent. - - 2009 Wheeler Miller Grove South Atlanta Dublin Whitefield Academy - - 2010 Milton Miller Grove Columbia GAC Wesleyan - - 2011 Norcross Miller Grove Columbia GAC Wilkinson Co. - - 2012 Milton Miller Grove Columbia Laney Whitefield Academy - -

GIRLS PAST STATE CHAMPIONS (SINCE 1970) Year AAAAA AAAA AAA AA A B C 1970 - - Forest Park Berrien Monroe Area Mitchell Co. Taylor Co. 1971 - - Sequoyah Sprayberry Taylor Co. Montgomery Norman Park 1972 - - Decatur Berrien Taylor Co. Montgomery GAC 1973 - - Cherokee Monroe Area Haralson Co. Loganville - 1974 - - Waycross Cairo Pickens GAC - 1975 - - NE, Macon Berrien Haralson Co. GAC - 1976 - - Cherokee Franklin Co. Brooks Co. Clinch Co. - 1977 - - Lowndes Brooks Co. Irwin Co. Miller Co. - 1978 - - Lowndes Waycross Bowdon Co. Temple - 1979 - Lowndes Berrien Co. East Hall Miller Co. - - 1980 - Lowndes Coffee East Hall Miller Co. - - 1981 - NE, Macon Madison Co. White Co. Warren Co. - - 1982 - NE, Macon Cairo Putnam Co. GAC - - 1983 - LaGrange Berrien Morgan Co. GAC - - 1984 - LaGrange Rockdale Co. Seminole Co. Central, Tal. - - 1985 - NE, Macon Dodge Co. Terrell Co. Central, Tal. - - 1986 - Baldwin Rossville Terrell Co. Central, Tal. - - 1987 - Baldwin Dodge Co. Seminole Co. Clinch Co. - - 1988 - Baldwin Chattooga Upson Taylor Co. - - 1989 - Morrow Hart Co. Seminole Co. Hawkinsville - - 1990 - Morrow Hart Co. Berrien Co. Broxton-M. Hayes - - 1991 - Morrow Hart Co. Wash. Co. Clinch Co. - - 1992 - Cedar Shoals Hart Co. Tri-County Taylor Co. - - 1993 - Morrow Hart Co. Fannin Co. Clinch Co. - - 1994 - Sequoyah Hart Co. Gainesville Taylor Co. - - 1995 - S. Gwinnett Woodward Haralson Co. Taylor Co. - - 1996 - Sequoyah Woodward Randolph-Clay Manchester - - 1997 - Stone Mtn. Richmond Acad. Thomasville Pelham - - 1998 - Wheeler Josey Thomasville Putnam Co. - - 1999 - Pope Woodward Fannin Co. Holy Innocents’ - - 2000 - Beach North Atlanta Randolph-Clay Sav. Ctry. Day - - 2001 Collins Hill C. Gwinnett Gainesville GAC Jefferson - - 2002 Collins Hill Glenn Hills NE, Macon GAC Wesleyan - - 2003 Parkview Mays Gainesville Early Co. Taylor Co. - - 2004 Stephenson St. Pius X Gainesville Wesleyan Hawkinsville - - 2005 Collins Hill Etowah Hephzibah Wesleyan Terrell Co. - - 2006 Collins Hill St. Pius X Avondale Wesleyan SW Atl. Christian - - 2007 Collins Hill St. Pius X East Hall GAC Hawkinsville - - 2008 Stephenson SW DeKalb Kendrick Wesleyan Calvary Day - - 2009 Redan SW DeKalb Carrollton Buford Wesleyan - - 2010 Norcross SW DeKalb Columbia Buford Wesleyan - - 2011 Norcross Fayette Co. Washington Co. Buford Wesleyan - - 2012 McEachern Miller Grove Columbia Lovett Wesleyan - -

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